I put this story in yesterday’s links, but I don’t think many of you saw it because you were too busy being hypnotized by Liam Neeson’s substantial dong. Well, I’m sorry to bring up the image of Liam’s bounty, but we need to talk about Donald Trump. Trump has been – in my opinion – batsh-t crazy for a while now. I don’t think he was ever inoffensive, but when he really started going after Pres. Obama, he really moved into what I consider the fringe lunacy. The breaking point for many people seemed to be Trump’s call for armed revolution against the democratically re-elected president on Election Night last week. Trump had a massive Twitter meltdown (he later deleted most of the tweets) and it was so bad that even NBC anchor Brian Williams called him out live on air.

Basically, Trump is a catastrophe. He is a hot mess that no one should want to be involved with. Which is why a petition has been started which aims to publicly shame Macy’s into withdrawing from their association with Trump.

Should Macy’s dump Trump? Donald Trump gained notoriety for his no-nonsense business tactics on The Apprentice, but if nearly half a million people have their way, he may soon be on the other end of his infamous “You’re fired” catchphrase.

More than 465,000 individuals have signed an online petition urging Macy’s to sever ties with the 66-year-old billionaire, a longtime spokesperson for the brand. The letter cites his “especially unpleasant, nasty, and despicable behavior” and accuses the star of spreading lies about President Barack Obama — Trump is a noted “birther” theorist — and global warming. (After Hurricane Sandy, he declared that “global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”)

The petition also paints the business magnate as a sexist hypocrite who “personally [attacks] women he disagrees with by calling them ‘unattractive,’ ugly, or fat” and complains about jobs being shipped overseas, “despite the fact that almost his entire clothing line sold at Macy’s is made in China and other Asian nations.”

Indeed, Trump’s tirades have become increasingly public recently. After President Obama’s re-election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, the outspoken Republican (who once spoke of running for office himself) took to Twitter to express his unhappiness. He was quickly criticized by NBC’s Brian Williams, who said that Trump had “driven well past the last exit to relevance and veered into something closer to irresponsible.”

The Celebrity Apprentice host fired back the next day, calling Williams’ show “a disaster” and further lamenting the election results.

“Brian Williams was never a smart guy but always passes himself off as such. People will learn the truth!” he tweeted. “Another four years — not good for the country but we’ll have to live with it! Our country is totally split right now but someday it will come together! We have to make America great again!”

I do have some mixed feelings about the petition (although I did sign it, btw). Maybe it’s because I associate the whole idea of “signing a petition to get someone pushed out of advertising” as a typically conservative thing to do – I know I’m wrong about that, don’t even bother correcting me. But it reminds me of the “Million Moms” who tried to get Ellen DeGeneres yanked from JC Penney contract just because she’s gay and she was vocalizing support for gay marriage – and I was really happy when JC Penney stood by Ellen too. I wanted the Million Moms petition and activism to fail because their agenda came from a place of anti-gay bigotry. Is it okay to want Donald pushed out of Macy’s because of HIS wingnuttery? Eh. Maybe I’m overthinking it.

I just don’t get why this guy has a following of any kind. Why does he have a show and who watches it? He presents himself as a self made billionaire. All bull! His daddy was a millionaire real estate developer who handed his son the biz at a time when real estate was booming in NYC and Atlantic City. His father bought properties that turned into big money later. Donald didn’t make his fortune…he’s actually lost a lot of it thru multiple bankruptcies. He’s a sham and has always been a sham.

He’s a narcissist who needs attention and the only way he can get it is by acting like a jacka$$.

I do think Macy’s should think about who represents them. I don’t shop there because this guy disgusts me. And the hypocrisy of people like Trump never ceases to amaze me! While I don’t know if the petition is going to be effective I signed it if only for the satisfaction of knowing it’ll pi$$ the sh!t out of the Donald.

The petition seems to me anyways to be a wasted effort. It most likely won’t change a business relationship. Since Donald Trump’s behavior during the election cycle was so abhorrent, I will never buy his brand or watch any show which includes him. That is my chosen method to tell Macy’s and NBC what I think about Trump…. If the sales or ratings are low enough they will sever ties with him. I’m just not sure if a petition to ‘shame’ a company for a business relationship is the most effective method….
Yet i do hope he is fired for his horrible behavior these past few months.

Most employment contracts will contain a clause that says employment can be terminated where a company or business is brought into disrepute by the employee. I am sure Macy’s would have something like that.

yes – you are overthinking. the million moms was a bully organization who were haters. trump is the bully here, and the people are kindly letting macys know that the people will associate macys with trumps image. not good for them.

I’ve wondered why this richer than rich guy (supposedly) can’t do better then obviously cheap sunless tanner and hair that defies description. He could have gotten hair plugs and nice ones with the money he supposedly has.

What I don’t get is how the women he ends up with can even stand to have him touch them. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww! No money in the world would be enough for me to hit that!

ITA. Don’t get the action mixed up with its impetus – petitioning is fine. It’s what we do in democracy: form opinions and share them civilly and respectfully. Donald Trump fails the civility part.

It’s not so much that his politics are different than mine, it’s the offensive way he goes about sharing them. It’s not a left wing-right wing thing; it’s just plain manners. I think our society is becoming more compassionate and we’re calling out those who are needlessly hurtful.

And yes, Donald Trump is crazy – in a Lindsay lohan ‘because no one ever tells them to stop’ way. Trump acts out because he can. No one with the power to do so has told him to stfu. Apparently he hasn’t had negative consequences that would make him want to stop.

You’re right with this guy as far as it not being a left/right thing. He’s definitely equal opportunity–anything to get attention The sad thing is that there are plenty of right wingers out there who will love the BS he pushes . I also think the fact that the President actually pushed back at last year’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner that The Donald simply can’t stand it.

I simply don’t understand why so many supposedly smart and well to do people in this country give this guy the time of day. He’s a lunatic and he deserves to be totally shunned by civilized people.

I agree, Me Too. The president made him a laughing stock at that dinner. If there’s something a spoiled brat like he does not forgive, it’s being made to look foolish.

That’s why he has that vendetta against Obama.

+ I suspect that there’s a bit of subtle racism involved as well; him not being able to stand that he as a white rich man couldn’t be president and Obama was just reelected. He’s used to dealing with other white rich guys, who all pet each other on the shoulder during golf, while their model wives smile humbly. Obama and his wife can’t be influenced by him in that way and he hates it.

I disagree with Trump disputing the presidential election results and some things he has said but he has the right to free speech AND the consequences, such as a drop in his sales revenues and disapproval but a boycott? What about the Macy’s employees? What have they done?

I loath Donald Trump completely. His hate-filled rants are contributing to the rhetoric that is splitting American down the middle. It is this type of viewpoint that feeds the fear and paranoia that drives so many to form an often inaccurate and ignorant view of the way things stand now. Free speech is one thing but his type of expression is helping to further add flames to an already out of control firestorm.

If it really comes to the fact that people stop buying there so much that employees will be fired, you might consider that people still need to buy their stuff. It might help keep open some smaller businesses if people start buying there instead.

The difference between this and the Ellen thing is people aren’t disgusted by who Trump is or who he loves, but by what he is saying. Ellen wasn’t attacking Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow, and Bette Middler, calling them stupid and ugly, accusing the president of lying about his place of birth and trying to ransom the evidence out of him using Hurricane Sandy victims, suggesting that we need global warming, lying about China stealing US jobs and in the same breath boasting about his line of cheap accessories made in China and his stupid reality show. There’s a line and he crossed it for nothing but cheap publicity. So now he’s being called on it.

It isn’t about his right to free speech, he can say what he wants as far as I’m concerned, and the government won’t come after him (people seem to get confused as to what free speech means) but that doesn’t mean private individuals can’t. The public has had enough and there are consequences for our actions, so Macy’s is being called on a rather shady relationship.

Ellen is gay, she can’t choose to be straight. Trump can, and should, choose not to be such a revolting, racist, attention-milking bastard.

P.S. this petition is from the same person who pretty much got Glen Beck sacked from Fox. I think it might work if it gets over a million signatures.

Well it didn’t make huge news but his name is also getting dropped from the Trump Towers in NY(I always thought he owned the towers but it was just a name lease). This decision was made before the election his brand is diminished considerably. Macys should end there relationship the man is a crazed bigot who was never as good at business as he is at getting attention.

Hmmmm….I do agree that he lives for attention but I think this would really throw him off. He walks around like he’s impenetrable so I’m all for anything that knocks him down a peg or two. Also, the only thing he cares about is money so he’d be PISSED about losing the revenue. In the words of the strip club owner in Kill Bill 2 “F***ing with your cash is the only thing you kids understand.” That’s Trump in a nutshell

I have mixed emotions about Trump..
I do care for the old fart but also it won’t be just affected by this petition…
His recent tantrums towards President of U.S and now he going after Tyler Perry and gods knows whoever else really gets annoying

umm, the dude’s been a douche for years, people are just now noticing? he’s always been an ass/hateful and has never been quiet about it, to him any press is good press-sooo pretty much, you’re giving him what he wants..

A few days ago I read that a Macy’s spokesperson is doubting the accuracy of the claim of how many people have actually signed this petition. The spokesperson then went on to say that they have no plans to disassociate themselves from Trump the Chump.

I signed it too, I may be a Canadian citizen but I have a Macy’s credit card..I cannot stand him, never could after reading in depth articles on his business dealings. After reading all the twitter feeds and news articles, the hateful language used, free speech yes but isn’t it to based on truth instead of batsh@t made up to rile up those who blindly follow this nonsense?

So now anyone who disagrees politically with the president is subject to exile?
Liberals were allowed to bash Bush at will but even the slightest hint of disagreement with Obama is grounds for sanctions. Double. Standard.

It is categorically NOT a double standard, because if you will remember (which you probably won’t, because no other republicans seem to remember this now that the tables have turned) liberals who did bash Bush were called unpatriotic, encouraged to leave the country, and were told by the President himself that “if you’re not with me, you’re against me.”

Thanks Anon33. Katie seems to have a REALLY short memory, because anybody who did not agree for at least 98% with Bush in the years just after 9/11 was treated like a traitor.

And this is hardly just about Obama. I’ve really disliked his family after his son started boasting online about slaughtering a poor elephant. His bratty son would never have had the money (or entitled mindset) to go shooting elephants like that without his father.

Thank you anon, I remember this only too well. Apparently you can only bash a democratic president, and not be unpatriotic. When you call into question the trumped up charges for war with Iraq, weapons of mass destruction anyone? You were pilloried. You didnt question a sitting president in the times of war, until Obama got elected.
You call into question Obamas administration about Ben ghazi (sp), or the nearly treasonous comments Trump made on twitter after the election, but, he’s just an American expressing his constitutionality guaranteed right of freedom of speech?

You’re correct – he does have the right to express his view. And I have the right to inform any business with which he does business why I won’t patronize their establishment.

As has always been done, I will vote with my dollar, which is all some people understand. And those people are also the ones whose hearts bulge with hatred and fear. I cannot change that, but I CAN affect their economic bottom line.

Shrugging one’s shoulders and standing by apathetically is typically what has lead human beings into some pretty atrocious situations on this planet. It’s not “gang mentality” when human beings refuse to tolerate a person spewing hatred, intolerance and threats. It’s protecting the fabric of the society in which we live.

PRECISELY. The petition allows people who find Trump offensive to voice this opinion to Macy’s, and it’s not the only way consumers can speak out. Boycotts are effective too – let your wallet do the talking.

Nobody said he couldn’t state his opinion here. Don’t act like we did.

It’s a nasty tactic that I’ve seen quite a lot on this website the last few months, coming from people defending rightist positions.

Find arguments about why your position is the right one and defend them. DON’T pretend we said things we didn’t, just so you have something you can attack. It makes it seem like you have no arguments against what we really say.

Mr. Trump deserves the same consideration any other private citizen would get in this circumstance. He has a right to free speech just like everyone else. The petition signers are envious losers they don’t measure up to anyone’s idea of success. A lot of people envy Mr. Trump’s courage and success. Macy’s needs to take the high road and ignore the haters who signed the petition as most of them probably can’t afford to do anything in a Macy’s store but shoplift.

Large companies drop athletes, actors etc from their endorsement deals when their image is severely marred. Trump already had the image as a greedy arrogant asswipe. Now you can add racist blowhard AND sore loser to the list of credentials. His image is shit now. So yeah, Macy’s should drop him, more for their own sake than because of some petition. He adds no value or appeal to their product, in fact, he DEvalues the Macy’s brand.

Trump is a bully. He wants his free speech, but anyone who disagrees with him is excoriated. Also, calling for a revolution because his candidate didn’t win is not my idea of a good American –a candidate whose own staff said Trump drove them crazy and hurt the campaign. And by the way, I signed the pledge as did many others I know. “Envious loser” fits none of us. I envy nothing about Trump including his several bankruptcies that impacted not just him, but many others. We do have free speech in this country. But with free speech also comes accountability.

Gawker refers to him as a “vibrating bologna loaf” which I think is accurate. His success is relative. He inherited daddy’s money and has spent the last four decades trying (and often succeeding) in flushing it down the can.Find a reliable source regarding his “investments” and properties. His other nickname should be Mr. Bankruptcy.

Free speech needs to be responsible-trump called for armed revolution on election night- have we forgotten congresswomen Gabrielle Gifford , 6 killed & 18 injured after irresponsible “free speech” from wing nuts – instructing “lock & load”,
“Take up arms against the Democrats”, etc.?
Those comments incited a mentally unstable man to wreak havoc-who will now have 7 life terms to serve . Think about it, who’s next, could you or yours get caught in the crossfire?

Trump is a whiner and a loudmouth mouth bully,who has a temper tantrum when life doesn’t go his way. He’s behavior on election night was inappropriate, and disgusting. People can have a disagreement on politics, and some may even be upset with the way it went down. But, we as adults have the ability to show some civility, some class, and be respectful to the process. Trump, was way over the line of anything respectful. He’s just a really poor sport, and yes, there is free speach, but we as consumers have the power to not support anything that he’s involved in. Hit him were it hurts. For the record, im a huge obama supporter.

Macy’s has nothing to do with the election or the President. He’s a major douche but he’s still entitled to his opinion, just like everyone else. Would pulling him from the ad really make everyone forget what he said and feel better instantly? No. Don’t like him, don’t buy his products. There’s TONS of other “famous” people who have offended others regarding the election etc. but you don’t see them petitioning to remove them from something. Just because someone disagrees with your opinion doesn’t mean they’re wrong.

There is a difference between not liking the president and birtherism which is racist,or talking about overthrowing an elected president.
Just like Macys shouldn’t have Louis Farakhan, or David Duke as spokespeople neither should they have Donald Trump.

How much of the clothing in the Trump line is manufactured in the U.S.? I bet he appreciates those workers living in dorms and working in China for pittance. As if the worker to CEO pay ratio in the U.S. wasn’t horrible enough. It’s the inequality, stupid Trump.

Quite true but I’ll bet that applies to a lot of celeb lines Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Jlo etc. They need called out too because they are just as much greedy hypocrites as this old tired white guy. WHat’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Has anyone called out her highness Bouncy on anything?

YEs, can trump and while we are at it, let’s get rid of P. Diddy, Martha Stewart, Carlos Santana (WTF, he appeared in one ad a legend from Woodstock sadly selling out, and that simpering idiot vocally challenged marketing gimmick otherwise known as Taylor Shifty – is there no end to her marketing? – and just employ models, it’s cheaper and they’d sell the product just as well.
When the same 20-30 faces show up everywhere it makes for a boring bland pop culture.

I agree with the spirit of the petition, but a boycott of Macy’s would work much better. The problem is getting the public behind a true boycott. I have heard many people calling for this or that while still patronizing the business/person/product. The power of consumerism is insidious and is so ubiquitous that we give in before we realize it half the time.

The employees, who are not executives, had no control over who is hired as spokesman and women. It would suck if people decide not to shop at Macys overall in protest and there are stories of layoffs. If you stop buying Trump crap that ends his bottom line.

I remember reading that in his pre-nup to wife #2 Marla …??? he has a caveat that if she gained over 10 pounds (other than if pregnant) it was grounds for divorce.

I don’t go to Macys, I don’t much care if he shills for them or not, but the man is an obnoxious pig, who disrespects women to the point it is sickening and he is a total ass who, while he has a right to speak, only says stupid crap and is a rich man thanks to his father and declaring bankruptcy several times to shirk his debts. He needs to buy himself an island in the middle of nowhere, shut the hell up and stay there.

Personally I feel bad for his wife, honestly, can you imagine being married to that bonehead? Ick!

trump has gone bankrupt 4 times to get away with from paying his bills and still be a billionaire he has a fued with obama where he would give sandy victims 5 million if obama would give over his transcripts wasnt that big of him …and that show of his stupid it should be pulled his show says backstabbing ,lying.stealing and cheating if none of thosr work then go bankrupt?he has done that 4 times and that beauty contest hahahahahahaha

You seem to be unclear on the precise definition of a “leftist”. I suggest you revisit basic Poli Sci before you start flinging a term about which is clearly beyond your current capabilities. In fact, the very tenets of democracy seem to be just out of your reach.

Sorry to have offended your delicate sensibilities,but I am fed up with people censoring other people’s speech with threats of boycotts. There is so much rhetoric coming from Hollywood that I find offensive but I support their rights to speak freely. I would never ever in a million years threaten a boycott for political purposes to shut down their right to free speech.

Hollywood and millions of people verbally assaulted Bush constantly but these same people call foul when people are harsh critics of Obama????

The far left has been playing this boycott card to the extreme. I live in MN and I remember when they organized a boycott for Target, because they did not like the fact that the Target CEO contributed money to a Republican candidate for governor. If someone wishes to donate money to Republicans,that is their right and no one or group should threaten them for practicing their freedom of speech.That is simply not American.

People already are afraid to express their opinions due to retaliation from people like you. So this is Obama’s America? If this is the case then the right had better join the boycott game.

This whole thing started after 9/11 when everyone not agreeing with Bush was treated like a traitor. Before that people could have civil discussions way more easily, but this effectively shut up any Bush critics for a few years.

If you’re really that short of memory, perhaps you recall that not long ago conservatives boycotted a pizza restaurant owner only for hugging Obama. And someone like that is a lot more vulnerable than Donald Trump.

So don’t be so disingenuous to act like it’s a tactic of the ‘far left’.

My guess is that some people are only angry because it happens to rich white men now too.

True trustmeonthis i’m raising somewhat of a straw argument but it’s easy to blast the nonsensical blather of this tired old white guy; but truth be told, for example, Jay Z and bouncy are every bit as entitled blathering narcissists as the Donald, but they get away with it for the obvious reasons (Jay Z talking about the 1 per centers in a recent interview when he’s one of the most entitled);
THis is why companies should go back to hiring models, that way all this would be avoided – I’m not going to shop at Macy’s because of the enticements of swifty, P. Diddy and certainly not the Donald.
I’m not signing the petition, if you don’t like the donald’s ramblings why not make factual precise arguments that refute his nonsense.

While i obviously have no use for the Donald I don’t believe he’s a racist – he’s had blacks on his apprentice show, appeared on talk shows like the view,etc., I think it is that he’s never had to make factual precise arguments wonkish style on policy matters, foreign or domestic, so it’s easier to rant about this birther issue than go into the complexities, pro and con, of the auto bailout.
Do you really think trump knows anything at all about the arcane complexities of the mideast, or understands how the Arab spring is playing out in all diverse Arab states?
Nah, back to ranting.

Here’s a great example of why I love Target so much as a company. They once accidentally funded a political campaign of someone very slightly homophobic. I personally thought it was OK not to boycott them, but a bunch of “us” did, and they apologized and fixed it. Not because we’re leftists who want to be “caved” to, but because it was the correct thing to do according to ~their~ company mission statement.

I signed the petition & would happily sign a hundred more like it. Trump has always been vile, & now he’s worse. His pathetic attempts to discredit President Obama are desperate & ridiculous.

I think he’s still mad at Obama for zinging him at that Press Corps dinner a couple of years ago, when the President had the whole room laughing at Trump, while Trump sat there seething. He is never going to forgive & forget that!

I think of him now as a giant orange 66-year-old infant who throws tantrum after tantrum. Also, I would be shocked if Macy’s cut ties with him, even if they had a million signatures or more.

Some of these comments crack me up.
The petition is not about exiling Trump for his political beliefs, or limiting his right to free speech, or telling people to boycott Macy’s entirely.
It’s about the public who chooses to sign it expressing THEIR right to free speech and telling a company that they don’t approve of one of their spokespersons/partners because of his bigotry, racism, and in general terrible behavior.

As of right now, the petition is almost 600K. When I saw this only a day or so ago, it was 400K. I wouldn’t have gotten into business with him to start with, but if I were Macy’s right now, I wouldn’t be too eager to renew his contracts. He can say whatever he wants, but Macy’s should also have the right to end their relationship if he is damaging the brand.

okay, americans including move on need to get a life if this is what we are spending our time on!!!!
‘wah wah, someone said something mean about our president’.
We do not have a monarch, nor a totalitarian leader, etc. Let him have his opinion, and yes, if sales go down, then Macy’s can make a business decision to let him go or whatever…
So don’t shop there.
But a petition to ‘Macy’s'….
omg.

I’m sorry, but shopping at Macy’s prob. does our country more harm than trump spewing insanity.

just sayin’. There’s so much more going on that is actually a problem.
Petitioning a department store chain b/c of their advertising choice?

where are the 99 percent?
signing a petition to make sure we have the ‘right faces’ shilling crap to us?
lol.

maybe i’m the only one seeing the irony in this?
as long as we have the ‘right look’ for our ‘brands’, then we’re good….

it’s not like trump is likely to convince anyone on the ‘other team’ to side with him. And those who already do-well, the petition will not change their minds, either.

Yes, this is what we do in a democratic country-sign petitions. but for a macy’s ad campaign?

Macy’s can do better than that ‘vibrating bologna loaf’ (thank you Gawker). The fact that they’ve lauded him as someone who reflects the spirit of the holidays and Macy’s is unbelievable. The petition is a good thing. Macy’s may need to get a handle on Trump’s lack of popularity and just not renew their deal. FYI (said this in an earlier post) He inherited daddy’s money and has spent the last four decades trying and often succeeding in flushing it down the can. He’s got a reputation for losing other people’s money, as much as he’s made money off other people’s money. He’s Mr Bankruptcy for a ton of failed development deals.

I don’t see any inconsistency in signing the anti-Trump petition and refraining from signing the anti-De Generes one. Supporting the anti-Trump petition opposes a bloviating bigot while not signing the anti DeGeneres one takes a stand against bigotry. Which goes to show that petitions can be liberal or conservative.

Yes, time to shut down this rude pig of a person. He thinks being seriously rich justifies being seriously obnoxious. Sorry asshole, it does not. Just his hair alone is reason enough to kick him to the curb.

He will, of course, blame it all on President Obama. And Rosie O’Donnell

I understand your hesitancy to sign a petition like this. I think that its important that we question why we take the stances that we do. However, signing a petition against someone because of their sexual orientation is entirely different than signing one against someone like Trump for making repeatedly sexist, racist, and entirely unsubstantiated and violent claims against people. Although I might disagree with them, I would respect his right to passionately hold a different opinion, if that opinion was grounded in a sense of rationality and facts (nevermind sanity…).

Whenever I hear his rants & rages I change the channel. His heinous personal attacks to anyone who challenges him is abominable. The last straw for me was when he called for armed revolution on election night. I’m sure Former Congessman Gabrielle Giffords & her family shuddered to think of the consequences of that horrific rant of his- given the fact that other irresponsible right wing nuts urged Americans to bear arms & attack politicians not of their party. Wasn’t too long after that a mentally disturbed person almost took Gabrielle’s life -killed 6 & wounded 18 others. Words matter!!